Wally Dunne: Put nation first

June 8, 2012

Common Sense has been consumed by a deadly virus. And as a result, our great nation has slipped, not so slowly, into a state of hateful name calling and mind numbing cultural, economic and governmental decay.

Unless, we are able to admit, confront, challenge and find a way to work together against this virus, America is doomed! The insatiable, destructive and all-consuming predator is Ideology. And it's not restricted to one specific ideology. It's the actual, physical, real world application of the concept of ideology.

Conservative, Liberal, Religious, etc. it doesn't seem to matter. We, America, are the problem. Every time we stand and attempt to put our ideology above the Common Good, we put one more nail in our nation's coffin. And, folks, the lid is almost sealed.

As the start of the 2012 election cycle began in Iowa, we saw the ugly, angry head of political and religious ideology reared. And we'll likely see the same from the other side of the spectrum when their time comes. It's as sure as death and taxes (despite Tea Party protestations).

The first step in addressing our demise is to admit that we, the people, are to blame. While it's cathartic and self-satisfying to scream and holler at our representatives ("ours" being the key), they are really only reacting to their constituency. Those that bring home the bacon continue to be re-elected. And while everyone cries, "Stop spending," it's always someone else's pork they want cut, not their own.

We must be able to have a common sense discussion about the real issues. Thomas Paine should be mandatory reading for every voter.

We must be able to say that while both business and unions need some freedom in the market place, giving everything to either of them is NOT in the public's best interest.

We must be able to say that while we need to assist those less fortunate in our society, welfare is a broken, dehumanizing, self-perpetuating system that rewards negative behavior, is rife with fraud and must be overhauled.

We must be able to say that while each of us may worship god in our own way, or not, we are a representative democracy and NOT a theocracy. The Golden Rule seems a reasonable and ample guide.

We must be able to admit that we have an immigration problem, much of which we created (businesses, unions, and individuals) by looking for the cheapest labor we could find. We can find a logical, reasonable and rational solution, if only we would stop playing to people's fears.

And finally, we MUST be able to admit that "We the People" have been as much a part of the problem as we must be a part of the solution.

And for the sake of all of us, we must be able to begin talking with, not screaming at, each other.

We are a vast land, full of human beings with different religious beliefs, political and economic views, cultural traits and more. But we are all AMERICANS. It's time to start acting like it. And if we don't, perhaps the only thing we will have in common will be our grief at our nation's funeral.